Southern California -- this just in

Hahn defeats Huey in South Bay congressional race

Ending a bitter special congressional election for the South Bay area, Democrat Janice Hahn defeated Republican Craig Huey on Tuesday.

Unofficial election night returns showed the Los Angeles city councilwoman with 54.6% of the vote, compared with the businessman's 45.4%

Hahn will replace former Rep. Jane Harman (D-Venice), who resigned the 36th Congressional District seat in February to head a Washington think tank.

Although Hahn was considered the favorite because of Democrats' 18-point registration lead in the largely coastal district, the race was believed to be tightening because Huey poured more than $800,000 of his own money into his campaign to rally "tea party" members and others discontented with Washington.

Hahn's victory will prompt a special election to fill her city council seat, which covers an area from Watts to San Pedro. At least one would-be successor, firefighter Pat McOsker, made his candidacy official Tuesday night.